Core Facility for non-destructive volume characterization for the production of tailor-made hierarchically structured high-performance materials

• Subject Area: Biomaterials ; Computer-Aided Design of Materials and Simulation of Materials Behaviour from Atomic to Microscopic Scale ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514139667

This expansion of spatially resolved analytics at Reutlingen University is intended to strengthen the university´s materials science-oriented research areas in the fields of "Biomedical Sciences" and "Technical Materials" in the long term and to improve the research competence with regard to the production and properties of functional materials and biomaterials as well as computer-aided materials design and simulation. In particular, the knowledge-oriented research based on the cross-sectional technologies 3D-printing, wet lay-up and sol-gel technology will be promoted. The acquisition will be used as important analytical tool directly in research projects on the following topics: (1) Realization of high mechanical strengths and good damping behavior via density variation in 3D-printed polymeric bulk materials for biomaterials such as knee spacer implants; (2) Design of void structure of foams and 3D printed porous polymer matrix systems for bone replacement materials; (3) Optimization of vascularization behavior of 3D-printed cellular tissue and non-destructive monitoring of in vitro skin tissue models using μ-CT based modeling; (4) Modeling and simulation of hearing and ear implants via μ-CT-generated geometry data of 3D-printed biomechanical structures; (5) Development of new high-performance ceramic materials based on nonwovens with tailored 3D structure; (6) Modeling of the infiltration behavior of porous fiber structures for the development of natural fiber-based biocomposites with optimized properties; (7) Fabrication of hierarchical structures based on fiber materials modified with functional nano- and microparticles for technical textiles; (8) Modeling of the influence of processing conditions on the microstructure and material properties of metallic materials.

• DFG Programme: Major Instrumentation Initiatives
• Major Instrumentation: Röntgen Nanotomographie-Gerät
• Instrumentation Group: 3230 Tomographie- und Schichtgeräte (Röntgen-)
• Applicant Institution: Hochschule Reutlingen
• Leader: Professor Dr. Andreas Kandelbauer